Attempting Rachel Ray’s “$40 a Day” in Asheville 20 Years Later

One of the popular themes of the past 20 years of food television is traveling on a budget. One show that encapsulated this idea perfectly was Rachel Ray’s Food Network hit, “$40 a Day.” The concept was relatively simple: Ray would visit a city with only $40 to spend on food for an entire day, covering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Today, despite the changing value of the dollar, we attempt to recreate this challenge in Asheville, 20 years later.

Breakfast at Tiger Bay Cafe

In the original Asheville episode, Ray began her day at Tupelo Honey. Keeping to the original breakfast budget, we opt for a more modern locale – Tiger Bay Cafe. We start the day with a delightful breakfast burrito, chock-full of scrambled eggs, cheddar, avocado, tomatoes, onions, all wrapped up in a spinach tortilla with a touch of chipotle mayo. This breakfast favorite comes in at a reasonable $10.16 after tax and tip.

Lunch at the Classic Soda Fountain at Woolworth Walk

Despite the generous breakfast, by lunchtime, the hunger pangs were setting in. Going retro, we visited the classic Soda Fountain at Woolworth Walk, a place steeped in local history. We opt for a classic chicken salad sandwich, perfectly topped with lettuce and tomato and served with a side of chips and a pickle – a total of $11.17, including tax and a 20% tip.

Dinner at Gypsy Queen Cuisine

With the sun setting, our final culinary stop was at the contemporaryGypsy Queen Cuisine. Sticking to a healthy but flavorful menu, we ordered the hommus bowl. The dish comprises of a generous serving of garlicky hommus, herby tabouleh, and a choice of protein. We went with the ever-popular falafel. The dinner total, including tax and a 20% tip, came out to be $16.51.

End of the Day Budget Evaluation

By the end of the day, our cumulative total came out to be $37.84, just under the original budget. It goes to show that twenty years later, a culinary journey through Asheville for under $40 is still completely possible.

While Rachel Ray’s “$40 a Day” might be a throwback, the charm of the show lay in the idea that you could eat well without breaking the bank. This experiment has proven that while the times and food trends might have changed, the spirit of eating well on a budget is still alive and well in Asheville, even 20 years on.